It is quite unfortunate that in the early days of the conflict the terrorists made such a spectacle out of killing journalists. I'm sure it was a deterrent to others from going there. So, as Eva Bartlett points out, the Western media reports things that they themselves cannot confirm to be entirely factual because they rely on suspect sources and sources not even inside Syria.
The media in this country is little more than a mouthpiece for the USG. It's not supposed to be that way. The media and the USG have lost all credibility. Question everything.